CALTRANS COMPLETES SR 99 DESIGN-BUILD PROJECTON TIME AND ON BUDGET

MADERA – Caltrans opened its first design-build project today, the State Route 99 Madera Rehabilitation Project, on time and on budget.

“This new section of State Route 99 will serve the 65,000 daily commuters, tourists, and truckers who rely on this critical Central Valley corridor,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty.

This four-mile-long project was Caltrans’ first under design-build demonstration program legislation (SB4) authored by Ca. Sen. Dave Cogdill and signed into law on February 20, 2009. Design-build is an innovative method of project delivery that combines both design and construction into one contract to expedite construction. Nine additional design-build projects are being constructed throughout the state.

In October 2011, Caltrans started the SR-99 Madera Rehabilitation Project, which improved the concrete median barrier and both northbound and southbound lanes of SR-99 from just south of the South Madera Overcrossing to just north of the Avenue 16 Overcrossing.

Caltrans reconstructed the truck lanes with innovative Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) to better withstand the truck traffic on the road. The project also upgraded guardrails, lighting, signage and drainage.

The total cost of this $37 million project was funded entirely with State Highway Operational Protection Program (SHOPP) funds.

California has a proven track record of maximizing its funding to successfully launch key infrastructure projects across California. For example, Caltrans has undertaken the following projects:

The $391 million Caldecott Tunnel Project is building a new tunnel that will eliminate the need to reverse the traffic direction in the existing center bore twice a day.

The $439 million Devil’s Slide Project features the state’s first new highway tunnels in nearly 50 years.

The $122 million Interstate 5 North Stockton Improvement Project is adding 16 miles of new carpool lanes and rebuilding four miles of the highway.

Last month the federal government rewarded Caltrans with a near-record $155 million in transportation funding after the state met all its 2013 transportation project federal deadlines. Caltrans was also nominated as a finalist to compete for the America’s Transportation Award for its work in completing the seismic retrofit of the Dumbarton Bridge. In the Central Valley, Caltrans broke ground on a much-needed expansion of the Kings Canyon Expressway to build a faster and safer route for commuters, farmers hauling produce, and travelers visiting King Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Recently Caltrans finished rebuilding 90 miles of Interstate 80 between Auburn and the Nevada state line, infrastructure improvements that included rebuilding seven bridges, improving lighting and adding new traffic monitoring systems. These projects are saving commuters precious time lost by traffic congestion while creating or supporting thousands of jobs.